Jan. 29, 2014

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A week ago, Gov. Steve Beshear and eight lawmakers from Northern Kentucky met in a room on the first floor of the state Capitol in Frankfort for a face-to-face discussion about the future of the $2.63 billion Brent Spence Bridge replacement.

There weren’t any cameras or reporters present, just about a dozen members of the executive and legislative branches trying to find some common ground, The Enquirer has learned exclusively through interviews with several individuals present.

The governor and three high-ranking members of his administration made the case for why the project needs to move forward. They outlined the need to replace the overcrowded, 50-year-old span in order to improve safety, traffic flow and economic development.

Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, who led Louisville through decades of angst over a similar project, emphasized how important it is to maintain the project’s momentum.

The administration also made it clear that the federal government is not going to pay for the project and that the state can’t foot the entire bill, so tolls will need to be imposed if it is to be built.

The meeting lasted more than an hour, and the lawmakers asked a lot of questions.

They also, for the first time, told the governor face-to-face what they’re hearing from their constituents back home: Tolls would be a burden unfairly borne by Northern Kentuckians, the project could jeopardize Covington’s fledgling economic growth, and not enough is known about the long-term effects of tolling for a project of this magnitude.

And they pointed to funding for Louisville’s Ohio River Bridges project and Eastern Kentucky’s Mountain Parkway as better deals.

In the end, no minds were changed. But the meeting was described as a starting point in what will be a long process over the coming months.

“I think at this point, we’ll have to agree to disagree,” said Simpson, an advocate for waiting to replace the bridge.

But a governor always has a Plan B.

On Thursday morning, roughly 17 hours after the meeting with lawmakers, Bond, Hancock and Russ Romine, Hancock’s chief adviser, held a 30-minute conference call with top Northern Kentucky business leaders to brief them and enlist their help, The Enquirer has learned exclusively.

“The governor certainly understands the political concerns surrounding the Brent Spence Bridge,” Hancock said. “But it is important to keep the project moving forward, and involving the business community and top business leaders in Northern Kentucky can help to make that happen.”

Participants included heavy hitters such as Covington developer Wayne Carlisle, EGC Construction CEO Ray Beil, Bank of Kentucky CEO Bob Zapp, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky president Jim Henning, former Covington mayor Chuck Scheper, and C-Forward Technologies president Brent Cooper, who will take over as interim president of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 10.

“Replacing the Brent Spence Bridge is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the history of Northern Kentucky,” Carlisle said. “I applaud Gov. Beshear for his leadership on this issue, and I’m proud to stand with him.

“The Brent Spence Bridge is the spinal cord of our region,” Carlisle said. “Without a new bridge, our entire region will suffer. We must keep the traffic flowing. The time has come for us to unite as a community and make the tough decisions about building a new bridge. Hopefully, we can all work together and gain the needed support of Northern Kentucky leaders to move the project ahead.”

The business leaders are expected to travel to Frankfort in the coming weeks to meet with lawmakers. Their involvement shouldn’t be interpreted as an endorsement of the preliminary financing plan Beshear’s administration proposed in December, which calls for tolls to pay the vast majority of construction costs. Rather, it’s a sign of the growing belief that the fate of the Brent Spence Bridge project may very well hinge on what happens in Frankfort between now and mid-April.

“I want to make sure the concerns that have been raised by Covington residents and businesses are addressed,” Scheper said. “It is important to be at the table while this very important project is being discussed, and I appreciate the governor involving us in the process.”

Last week proved to be a pivotal one for the Brent Spence Bridge project, between the governor’s meeting with lawmakers and enlisting the aid of business leaders. Both actions reflect his commitment to moving the project forward – and the growing sense of urgency within his administration.

It is widely believed that the project has reached a critical stage, and an agreement on how to pay for it must be reached in the coming months if it is to move forward.

If not, as lawmakers were warned in last week’s meeting, it could be another 10 or 20 years before the Brent Spence Bridge is replaced. ⬛

As an Enquirer columnist, I shed light and provide perspective on the people and issues important to Northern Kentucky. Email me atavbnky@nky.com.